Boyle-Blake paired on the power play; six more players sent to Worcester

MORNING UPDATE: The Sharks sent another six players to their Worcester development team this morning: goalie Thomas Greiss, defensemen Jason Demers and Mike Wilson, forwards Tom Cavanagh, Steve Zalewski and Jamie McGinn. END OF MORNING UPDATE.

A few quick post-game notes after the Sharks’ 4-3 OT victory over Phoenix:

For the first time this season, San Jose had Dan Boyle and Rob Blake in the same exhibition game and Coach Todd McLellan didn’t waste any time using both on the power play. I thought maybe that was because Christian Ehrhoff was a last-minute scratch (no health problems, just a late decision to give propsect Mike Moore another look).

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Nope, McLellan said, he was going to use Boyle and Blake together even if Ehrhoff were playing.

Even though the power play didn’t score, Blake showed that he still has a scary, attention-getting shot from the blue line.

“We really wanted to see what those two guys could do and I liked what I saw,” McLellan said. “Danny’s got great vision and he’s got ice in his veins when it comes to holding onto the puck. And Rob Blake’s prepared and willing to shoot it. Good ingredients.”

McLellan also said he liked the fact the team stuck with the game plan, even after falling behind by two goals in the first period.

“We made a couple mistakes and it was in our net,” he said, “but really, we did a lot of good things. We could have had a few more goals, but it was about the game plan and sticking to it. Patience.”

Tomas Plihal was the only Shark not on the first line to score a goal, and the reality is he coulda shoulda had a couple more. Jeremy Roenick set him up in front of the net with pass after pass and Patrick Marleau did the same at one point. If nothing else, Plihal — whose five shots on net tied him with Blake for the team lead — obviously got the message about driving toward the net. And I’m guessing the next message is about finishing.

Strange for the pre-season: Back to back games with a division rival and zero fights.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

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I’ve seen all 3 preseason games. My concern right now is the start of the game. Friday vs the Ducks, the Sharks controlled the first few shifts, then the rest of the period was filled with mistakes after the first goal.

Sat vs the Canucks was shaky the whole 1st period.

Tonight was better in the 1st, but shaky enough that the mistakes made them look embarrassed when it turned into a goal.

So the 1st period is a concern, but minor. It’s all just getting comfy with the new system and a couple new players.

IMO, all 2nd, 3rd periods were good, especially the 3rd periods of all 3 games.

goaliepuke

I also am starting to like the new system. I have a good idea what the mechanics/tactics are. But, it will be more fun to talk about what it isn’t.

The new system is not the RW straight ahead run and gun, North-South game where East-West isn’t allowed. Throw it in the corner and chase after it, if you recover the puck, cycle the hell out of it.

Lee Cavellini

sounds like the sharks played a much better game tonight. i go to ASU so i had the opportunity to see the sharks play the coyotes in phoenix last night where they lost badly. it was not a fun game to watch and it was probably the worst game ive seen boucher play… and he didnt play too solid against the canucks either… did he play in the OT win tonight or did nabby/greiss get the nod?

goaliepuke

As a whole, I think even the not-so-hockey fans will like the new system. They will see more shots, chances, and probably goals. It’s more exciting and interesting — meaning NOT boring hockey.

I think it’s a style of hockey many of of you have been waiting for.

GP

heavymtl

I like what I’ve seen 5 on 5, but they still seem to have the same problem setting up on the PP. Hopefully they can get that fixed soon.

Gary

GP, from the sound of things, they’ve totally changed the system. The debate now should be if the sharks have the right players to play this East-West style as you labelled it. The North-South game fitted the Sharks because of Big Joe’s size up front. I like varieties, to mix up things and be predictable. But if they only does the east-west thing, do you guys think the Sharks have players to be successful at that?

Ivano

Thanks, DP. My guess is that Plihal will start the season playing in Worcester. It’s not a good idea to waste to many easy chances.

Looking back at Detroit teams of the last few years, it wasn’t the offense that made the biggest difference last year, but it was the defense that was stellar enough that a mediocre GK Osgood looked like one of the best and the defense that completely shot down Malkin and Crosby, something no other team could do last year. I think it’s the defense that will need to make the biggest adjustment, especially after RW’s system, and it may take more than a season to get the defense in place that can go and win it all.

That said, I expect they will be a lot more conservative in official games, will block more shots, and Nabby will be more focused than ever.

A Zeus Fan

any rookies been cut? demoted? sent to AHL? in the last 3-4 days? looking for a list of who is left? who has sat? etc. THANKS!

tadpole

GP #2, it sure seemed like that was the game plan for the two practices I saw. Dig the puck out of the corners, back to the point, shot on net. I like it!

Still would like to know which flu Moore has 🙂

RobTheShark

#3 Lee

Nabby played the entire game last night

#7 Ivanho

Did you watch the Sharks play in Pittsburgh last year? Remember the score? Talking about shutting down Crosby and Malkin. Can you name the only NHL team that Crosby has not scored a goal against?

Finally David,

Any word on which players are going to be wearing the “A” when the season starts? Assuming of course that Marleau will continue with the “C”.

Funny you should mention. I asked McLellan about that yesterday and he said that conversations about who wears the ‘A’ hadn’t started yet. But I got the feeling he thought there were plenty of candidates.

David

Ivano

RobTheShark
Crosby didn’t play against the Sharks last season as he was injured. Either way, you can’t judge how our defense did against them by just one game. The truth is, we couldn’t shut down Iginla (which almost cost us an early playoff exit) and Morrow, Ribero and Modano when it mattered the most. Detroit shut down any offense they played, and they had good enough offense to score more than the other team.

Anyone know if the Canucks will stream the game on their website like last time the 2 teams played? I’d like to see how fat Bernier will be this season, although i think i read he will get time on the top line with the twins…

David H

I really like what I see in Boyle. Jamie Baker on a talk show said this summer that if you liked Campbells game you would really like Boyle. He was right

Now we have a defenseman who can hit and not worry about stupid penaltys. Blake has the same basic MO as Pronger, hit a much as possible from all anles and not get a call. Ehrhoff hits from all angles and gets penalized, but reputation gives Prongs and Blake an advantage.

AND STOP BOOING Pronger, it gets his juices flowing folks. It’s bad enough we have to play him so many times a year, but your booing insures that he does not take a night off against our boys.

Figure it out!!!

Nice game last night, but I could not help but think of last year, you know, out shoot the opponent 35-15 and lose 3-2. Cannot wait for the boys to play without thinking about the new system, just use it instinctually. CAP’n had a great game.

goaliepuke

Gary, I didn’t label the new system East-West. I didn’t label the new system at all ACTUALLY. I think I wrote that pretty clearly for 2 am. I talked about what the system wasn’t — it wasn’t RWs.

All I said about East-West is that it was forbidden under RW.

I hop we have that straight now. Thank You.

goaliepuke

#5, I’m not sure you watched last nights game at all. Setting up in the PP is less problematic and was actually done very easily last night.

The entry into the zone and setting up is just a variation/extension of the 5 on 5 play.

It was actually amazing there were no PP goals.

Stevo

Ivano #13,

If you go back and watch DET in the 1st round, specifically games 3 and 4, you will find a team that scored on them and almost took 3 in a row from them.

But to your point, DET knows how to adjust (bench Hasek) and play great D. No doubt there.

Gary

GP, I wasn’t criticizing you on labelling the system. I just want to know, from your observation, if the Sharks has the right players for the system that the new coach wants. For example, are JT and PM, JC or MM players with the necessary skills to work well in the system. That’s all, it was just a question.

Actionman408

Does it look like every time Blake is in the ice either some thing good is goin to happen or bad (like we score or they score) or it is just me.

Christian Ehrhoff better look out for Mike Moore. Mike can figth an shoot the puck an score some points an Ehrhoff can shoot an miss the net completly an hit his teammeat like Bill Guerin.

becca

I was at the game last night I loved how the guys are going to the net. This is going to be a fun season!d I think once the new system becomes habit and they aren’t thinking, we will see a lot more goals!

TaxSharkFan

Any word on whether or not the non televised games will be available again this year on center ice? It was nice last year to be able to see all the games.

Ivano

Stevo, #18
Round 1, huh? Are you serious? I can also show you a team that hasn’t lost in 20 games in regulation last season. So what?

Detroit was in their own league last year, and I have a feeling that if they stay healthy, no one will stop them this year either.

Stevo

Gee Ivano,

I am serious, but you can’t possibly be…The lowest seed in the WC took it to DET like no one else did in the playoffs. And I believe they split the season series, but I’ll let you do the research on that one.

I guess you didn’t watch that series, nor have the video tape. DET is very good as I said before. But they had the hardest time in the 1st round against the worst team. You tell me why that happened.

lazygirl415

actionman408 its not just you babe! i feel the same way evrytime the sharks go on the ice. Somthing good or bad will happan. GO SHARKS!!

goaliepuke

Gary, Sorry, mis-understood. Thoughts don’t always translate well in this forum and the like.

Yes, We have speed and proven puck control in JT and JR for example. We will be missing Torrey Mitchel with this. Still, even a guy like Goc can look good with this system. I don’t think he was bad last night, but did nothing to stand out either.

The system itself is a simple concept. There is added complexity when you combine the fwds and the D. If they are doing what I’m understanding as the basis of the system, which is what some would call a weave, it can be done almost anywhere on the ice and if the program is followed, there’s a built in defensive component.

Here’s a drawback, possibly. If a guy is having an off night, they might get exposed in various ways. But if the guys are doing it right, those mistakes will be recovered from quickly and easily. I think it allows for recovery when there are missed passes due to poor ice conditions.

This is generally a fast moving system — hence generating the excitement and style of hockey I was speaking of.

Some might remember GLM line in ’93/’94. It will be entertaining like that was.

GP

Ivano

Stevo
There is just one answer to that and you already mentioned it before – Hasek.

brice

Two things:
One, Sometime the GLM line was extremely frustrating…

Two, The Sharks have the perfect team for this type of system.

HockeyBen

I was at the game Friday against anahiem and it seemed to be cooler in the building than i remember it from last season. Has anyone else noticed a difference? Possibly translating to better ice conditions?

goaliepuke

I believe they said the building would be cooler.

I think it was cooler — for all 3 games. Last night especially. I didn’t look at attendance figures, but if there were 10K present, I’d be surprised.

goaliepuke

Brice, “Exciting” isn’t always a good thing. I don’t remember “frustrating” sequences with Igor and Sergei however; but, I would say in this new system, there is little more risk involved.

zeus

I believe what Brice was referring to was the GLM line would keep circling and passing and waiting for the “perfect” shot. Sometimes it didn’t come.

goaliepuke

Ah, right. I think do remember those scenarios. Yes, that was frustrating sometimes.

With this system now, thankfully, NOT shooting won’t be tolerated, IMO.

Stevo

Ivano,

Try and remember who DET had in goal for the first two playoff games, and they had no problems then…..

BTW, the season series was 5-3 DET. One game difference. If DET was all that, they should’ve maybe lost one game against the crappy Preds no?

Do you wear Red Wings underwear too? He,he..

Ivano

Stevo
If you look at the stats, Detroit has rather mediocre stats against Division rivals. I have no clue why because it was arguably the weakest in the West. However, look up how they fared against everybody else and this gives you the whole picture.

If you can’t admit Detroit was the best team in the NHL last season, then our conversation is over.

nonamefan

Is Stevo arguing that point? The Wings were the best team in the league last year, and I think everyone knew that eventually their cup journey had to somehow go through Detroit and Anaheim/Dallas/SJ.

Stevo

Ivano,

I think you misunderstand me, friend.

Go back to #13…”Detroit shut down any offense they played…” That’s what I was responding to. At the end of my #18 response I made sure to point out how good they are on D.

I gave you 3 factual examples, not fabrications, to support my point:

1. DET was very close to being DOWN 3 games to 2 against the weakest team in the WCP’s – in the 1st round no less. In games 3 & 4 DET gave up 5 goals and blew a 2-0 lead respectively.

2. DET’s D was airtight in the first 2 games, and non-existent in the next 2 games.

3. DET season series against that same weak WC team resulted in a one game advantage for DET.

But, as I said in #18, they are very good. No doubt. They just couldn’t shut down the #10 (#8 in the WCP’s) team in the WC with ANY consistency. A big black eye in my book for their team D.